Israeli troops will control a large swathe of southern Lebanon as part of their campaign against Hezbollah, Defence Minister Israel Katz says.
Katz said troops would establish a security zone up to the Litani River, about 30km (19 miles) from the Lebanon-Israel border and displaced residents would not be allowed back until northern Israel was safe.
Five bridges "used by Hezbollah for the passage of terrorists and weapons" had been blown up, he said.
The latest escalation began after Iranian-back Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel in retaliation for the killing Iran's supreme leader and near-daily Israeli attacks on Lebanon despite the November 2024 ceasefire.
Since then, more than 1,000 people have been killed in Lebanon, according to the Lebanese health ministry, including at least 118 children and 40 health workers.
